Don't Know Much About (Fil-Am) History?

October is when Filipino American organizations stage some high profile events to celebrate Filipino American History Month. In San Francisco alone, two international events, involving participants from the Philippines, the US and Filipinos based in countries other than the two, are happening: the 5th Filipino American International Book Festival (Filbookfest) on October 12-13 and the 26th annual Filipino International Cine Festival (FACINE) on October 18-20. These in addition to several other happenings in other places where a substantial number of Filipino Americans are based.

So mark your calendars or set up your own celebration of Filipino presence in the US. When we started Filipinas magazine in the early '90s, we were faced with the problem of a very quiet community. Now we can't keep up!

Have a meaningful Filipino American History Month, everyone.

In keeping with the focus on art and literature this month, we feature two authors and a relatively unknown but definitely significant Filipino artist. 

Veteran journalist/columnist Benjamin Pimentel writes about journalist/author Criselda Yabes, a PF Correspondent herself, who has very impressively melded the skills of a journalist and a fictionist in her books. She will be one of the featured authors in Filbookfest. ("Criselda Yabes, Master Storyteller")

PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino focuses on Cinelle Barnes, a Filipino American author who is coming out with a book of essays this month, following her acclaimed first novel. ("Watch Out World: Cinelle Barnes, Essayist Empowered by Endurance")

From the 19th century, PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia digs up info on the life and works of Filipino master watercolorist whose recently discovered works have fetched high prices in the art world. ("Discovering a Long-Lost 19th Century Filipino Master Painter")

And to inspire you to reflect on the significance of this month, Read Again Abraham Ignacio Jr.'s historical piece on "Where Exactly Did 'Filipinos' First Land in California?" 

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week is Gluten-Free Vegan Palabok from vegan chef Richgail Enriquez.

Here are our In The Know links to stories you may have missed:

Retiring in the Philippines: Pros and Cons
https://finance.yahoo.com/m/29c07c8f-d30a-38d3-acec-8ea2ef9097b2/retiring-in-the-philippines%3A.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&uh_test=1_04

7 Filipino dishes you've probably never heard of (and where to find them in Manila)
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/little-known-filipino-dishes-manila/index.html

Magellan was first to sail around the world, right? Think again.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/09/magellan-first-sail-around-world-think-again/

7 Breathtaking Secret Airbnbs in the Philippines That Feel Like Paradise
https://www.townandcountry.ph/travel/hotels/secret-airbnbs-in-the-philippines-src-esquireph-a00204-20180329-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-TC&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190921-fbnp-travel-secret-airbnbs-in-the-philippines-src-esquireph-a00204-20180329-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR3D6sYB9KaJuKXmS8Ig9ggdqFjhdfRQGcRhAGbpE-W2QqzlIYIn_K6MvSw

How Building Churches Out of Egg Whites Transformed Filipino Desserts
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/filipino-desserts?fbclid=IwAR0zKZrMjur-TgXyGpgO4w9kmozpFI8AZei46GJxCbCbniPXgvdJd9ixYtY

Our Video of the Week is about a little-known yet very significant fighting unit during World War II -- the Aeta Squadron 30, a historical documentary from GMA Public Affairs.